Recently, Jason Mayes, Google Web ML Lead, interviewed Ryan Eder, Founder and CEO of IncludeHealth. In this video, Ryan and Jason discuss IncludeHealth’s digital MSK platform, the inspiration behind starting the work, and how it enables and optimizes hybrid care. In addition, they explore how IncludeHealth helps to digitize physical therapy by partnering with health systems, PT networks, and orthopedic groups in a privacy-preserving way that scales. View the article below for a recap of this interview, and check out the full video on this page.
Introduction: Making Healthcare More Accessible to All
The medical industry has witnessed a remarkable transformation in recent years, with a focus on making healthcare more accessible to all. One of the groundbreaking advancements in this area is the collaboration between IncludeHealth and TensorFlow.js, which is revolutionizing remote physiotherapy at scale.
The Journey of IncludeHealth
The inspiration behind IncludeHealth began when Ryan witnessed a man in a wheelchair struggling while exercising. In 2018, the company launched its first product, an accessible and digitized strength trainer for physical therapy clinics. However, the team at IncludeHealth knew they could go further by expanding their platform into computer vision, delivering care directly into patients' homes on their own devices.
Harnessing the Power of Web Machine Learning and TensorFlow
With the help of web machine learning and TensorFlow, IncludeHealth created a platform that provides real-time feedback to patients using MoveNet, an ultra-fast and accurate pose detection model. The platform is designed to run on any device with a front-facing camera and a browser, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
Clinicians can create customized plans for their patients, selecting from a vast database of movements and adjusting parameters to suit individual needs. These plans are then sent to the patient, who can follow the prescribed exercises and receive real-time feedback on their performance. Throughout the process, the platform collects data on the patient's range of motion, which is sent back to the clinician for review and plan modifications.
A User-Friendly Experience for All Ages
The team at IncludeHealth has made it their mission to create a user-friendly experience for remote physiotherapy that caters to patients of all ages, including those who might not be tech-savvy. With a seamless interface, the platform offers a smooth patient experience, detailed reporting for therapists, and powerful capabilities for monitoring and adjusting treatment plans.
The Visual Demonstration Walkthrough: An Intuitive Experience for Patients
To start, patients receive an email or text notification containing their customized physiotherapy plan, as set up by their physical therapist.
Upon opening the plan on their laptop, mobile device, or tablet, they are provided with an overview of the upcoming exercises, complete with male or female animations, and the number of reps and sets they need to perform.
The platform then guides the patient through a quick test to ensure the model will run correctly. Once the test is complete, patients are shown how the MoveNet model works to help them understand the technology behind the system. After this quick introduction, the focus shifts entirely to the patient and their recovery.
Throughout the session, patients are given clear instructions on how to perform each exercise, with a live readout of their range of motion and a rep counter to track their progress. If a patient fails to meet the minimum range of motion threshold, they will not receive credit for that rep, ensuring accurate tracking of their progress.
Powerful Capabilities for Physical Therapists
Therapists can access the clinician portal to create customized plans for their patients. They can choose from a vast database of exercises, which is updated with thousands of new movements every month. Additionally, the platform offers functional tests and surveys, allowing therapists to collect comprehensive data on patient performance.
Beyond exercise selection, therapists can also adjust parameters such as the range of motion targets and rep counts, tailoring the program to each patient's unique needs. Once the plan is completed, it is sent to the patient, allowing them to start their physiotherapy journey from the comfort of their home.
Detailed Reports for Progress Tracking and Treatment Modification
After patients complete their exercises, all data is collected and sent directly back to their physical therapist. This information is used to generate a report that breaks down the patient's scores across individual movements as well as surveys.
Therapists can also review videos of the sessions to assess patients' movements and make any necessary adjustments to their treatment plans.
The platform provides insights into patients' adherence to their home exercise plans, engagement levels, and progress across different range of motion parameters.
This data allows therapists to make informed decisions about modifying care plans, ensuring patients receive the best treatment for their recovery.
IncludeHealth's remote physiotherapy platform offers a user-friendly experience for patients of all ages and empowers therapists with powerful capabilities for monitoring and adjusting treatment plans.
As remote physiotherapy continues to gain popularity and evolve, the platform is poised to make a lasting impact on the healthcare industry.
The Future of Remote Physiotherapy
IncludeHealth is just at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to revolutionizing remote physiotherapy. The platform is already deployed across health systems, PT networks, and clinics throughout the country, as well as working with the government, including the Air Force and the VA. Our company aims to extend care to people who currently struggle to access it.
Overall, the collaboration between IncludeHealth and TensorFlow.js is paving the way for more accessible and efficient remote physiotherapy services, changing the lives of patients around the world.
